AIC Cure International Hospital

Purity is an 18-year-old girl from Kenya. She is a bright and determined student. Purity is full of hope, determination, and dreams for her future. Her hard work earned her a high school scholarship. Purity has clubfoot in both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. For her mother, the diagnosis came with mixed emotions. “It was a mixture of emotions. I did not know how to react or who to turn to,” her mother recalls. When Purity was just nine months old, she started wearing foot braces in the hope that they would correct her feet. At first, it seemed to work. Her feet gradually took shape, and she eventually stopped wearing the braces. However, her mother, a single mother who works at a hotel, had little hope of finding further treatment for her daughter. She continued raising Purity and supporting her as best as she could. Fortunately, Purity traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on August 24th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Purity's clubfoot repair. The treatment will allow her to walk more confidently, play with other children, continue her education, and participate more freely in everyday activities. Purity shared, “My greatest hope is to have my foot corrected so that I can stand upright and walk properly. I also hope this treatment will improve my self-esteem and allow me to continue with my education like other children. I dream of becoming a doctor one day, and hopefully, I will achieve that after receiving treatment.”

Calvin is a four-year-old boy from Kenya. He is the youngest in his family. His mother sells ready-made clothes, and Calvin’s father sells and repairs electronics to support the family. Calvin has clubfoot in both of his feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. At just two days old, he began serial casting at Kericho District Hospital and was later given a brace to help maintain the correction. However, due to financial challenges, the family was unable to attend some of the scheduled follow-up appointments. Unfortunately, the missed follow-ups contributed to the recurrence of Calvin’s clubfoot. Due to his condition, Calvin walked on his toes and would often fall. Playing and keeping up with other children was also a challenge for him. Fortunately, Calvin traveled to visit our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on August 24th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Calvin's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will have an opportunity to walk better, play freely with other children, and participate more confidently in everyday activities. “I am looking forward to seeing my child undergo a successful surgery and, most importantly, walk well and enjoy a normal childhood,” Calvin's mother shared.

Alexia is a five-year-old girl from Kenya. She is the firstborn in a family of two. Both of her parents are primary school teachers. When Alexia's mother gave birth to her, she noticed that her feet were bent. She was shocked and worried. Her mother wondered what they could do to help her. Thankfully, the doctors encouraged her and explained that the condition is treatable. Alexia has clubfoot affecting both feet. Clubfoot is a condition in which the foot is twisted out of shape. This causes difficulty walking and even wearing shoes. Alexia started serial casting when she was just one week old. At the age of two, she underwent a tenotomy and continued with serial casting. However, the treatment she received at a previous hospital continued for a long time without significant improvement and placed a financial burden on the family. Fortunately, the family learned about our medical partner's care center, AIC CURE International Hospital. There, surgeons will perform clubfoot repair surgery on August 24th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Alexia's clubfoot repair. After treatment, Alexia will have a better chance of walking, playing freely with her friends, and enjoying a more active childhood. Alexia's mother says, “I am looking forward to the day I will see my daughter wearing shoes, walking normally, and going to school like any other child. This treatment gives me hope for her future.”

Rose, who is 14 years old, is a creative and joyful young girl from Kenya. She loves to draw, sing, and dance. "When I grow up, I want to own a children’s home and support children in need,” Rose says with a smile. Shortly after Rose was born, her mother noticed that her spine was beginning to curve. The family sought help at a local hospital when Rose was still young, and she was given supplements at that time. When she was three years old, Rose was fitted with a brace to help correct the curve. For the next four years, the family faithfully used the brace as Rose continued to grow. However, there was little improvement. “We used the brace as she kept growing, but the X-rays did not show any change,” her mother explains. Eventually, the family sought another opinion, but the experience left them discouraged. “We gave up and went back home because the brace was not making any difference; it was only making her uncomfortable,” she added. Rose's curved spine has affected more than her appearance. Rose experiences chest pain when walking long distances, and sometimes struggles to carry the books she needs for school. Everyday activities, such as fetching water, can leave her in pain. She has also struggled with her self-esteem, particularly when playing with other children. Years later, an unexpected encounter gave the family new hope. A stranger noticed Rose and shared that her own daughter had experienced a similar condition and had received treatment at our medical partner's care center, AIC CURE International Hospital. Doctors have determined that Rose needs to undergo a procedure called a spinal fusion. This surgery fuses two or more unstable vertebrae to reinforce the back structure, reduce pain, and ease symptoms. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. The surgery is scheduled to take place on August 26th, and once completed, it will hopefully improve Rose's quality of life. "I am looking forward to getting better and to continuing with my studies, just like my friends," Rose told us.

Audrian is a nine-year-old boy from Kenya. “I would love to be a driver so that I can travel to different places,” said Audrian, smiling. When Audrian was born, his family quickly realized that one of his feet was different. He had clubfoot of his right foot, a condition in which the foot twists inward and downward, making it difficult to walk normally Determined to help their son, Audrian’s family began searching for treatment options. For four months, his foot was placed in a series of casts to gradually correct its position. Afterward, he underwent surgery, and was fitted with an ankle-foot orthosis (AFO), a brace designed to hold his foot in the correct position as he grew. Audrian wore the brace for a year, and his family was encouraged by the progress they saw. Eventually, they were told that he no longer needed the brace, because his foot had improved significantly. However, as Audrian continued to grow, his family noticed that the condition had returned. Audrian had already endured months of casting, surgery, and discomfort. Watching him go through it all again felt like too much to ask of him or of them. Discouraged and afraid of putting him through more treatment, the family stopped pursuing care. Over the years, Audrian learned to live with his condition. He adapted as best he could, figuring out how to walk and play despite the challenges. But the older he became, the harder life grew. As he has grown, his condition has affected more and more aspects of his life. Walking long distances leaves him exhausted, and he tires more quickly than other children. At school, some children laugh at the way he walks, and their hurtful words have stayed with him. Instead of joining in freely, Audrian sometimes withdraws and keeps to himself. More than once, he has arrived home in tears. Audrian’s father noticed how much the condition was affecting his son’s confidence and happiness. He knew something needed to change. One day, while scrolling through social media, he came across a post from our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital, featuring photos of children whose lives had been transformed by treatment. Seeing their smiles and their ability to walk, run, and play again gave him hope. Now, for the first time in years, the family began to believe that a better future was possible. On August 27th, surgeons at AIC Cure International Hospital will perform clubfoot repair surgery on Audrian. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund this procedure. After treatment, Audrian's confidence will be restored, and his dreams of playing football without pain and without fear of being laughed at will be realized. Today, as he begins his journey, his family is filled with hope that he will walk more comfortably and come to understand that his condition does not define who he is. "We are really happy that finally, our son will be getting treatment. Your love and support are really appreciated," Audrian's dad said.

Zaya is an eight-year-old girl from Kenya. She lives with her grandmother, while her mother sells fruits to support the family. Zaya has a misalignment of her legs. When she was little, there was nothing unusual about her legs. However, around the age of four, her mother began to notice that her knees were coming together and that one of her legs was not straight. Zaya was developing knock knees, a condition in which the knees turn inward, while the ankles remain apart. “We waited for the condition to correct itself, but after some time, we noticed that it was not getting better,” her mother recalls. Zaya was brought to AIC CURE Hospital in Kenya, where implants were placed to help correct the alignment of her legs. Her condition improved, but about a year later, after the implants were removed, the condition recurred. Today, walking is at times painful for Zaya, and covering long distances can be a struggle. She often becomes tired when moving around. Despite these challenges, Zaya dreams of doing well in school and becoming a doctor one day. Zaya is scheduled to undergo corrective surgery on August 28th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,224 to cover the cost of Zaya's procedure and care. “I wish to dance well, or be able to do some dance moves once I’m healed,” Zaya says with hope.

Musa is a jovial and sociable 14-year-old boy from Narok County in Kenya. He is the last born in a family of seven, and is currently a Grade 7 student. His mother is a home maker, while his father works as a small-scale farmer to provide for their family. Like many boys his age, Musa enjoys being active, but his biggest dream is to become an athlete in the future. However, Musa’s journey has not been easy. He was born with bilateral clubfoot, a condition where the feet are twisted out of shape, which makes walking and running difficult. Because of this condition, Musa has often struggled with mobility, which has limited his ability to run and participate in sports like other children. Despite these challenges, Musa has not given up on his dreams. Musa is not new to our medical partner's care center, AIC CURE Hospital. He previously underwent surgery on his right foot, which is now corrected, greatly improving his mobility. Musa now needs corrective surgery on his left foot. Although resources are limited, Musa’s parents remain hopeful and supportive as their son continues his treatment journey. Musa was admitted to the hospital, and is currently undergoing serial casting in preparation for surgery on his left foot. Musa is scheduled for clubfoot repair surgery on March 11th at AIC CURE Hopsital. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 to fund Musa's clubfoot repair. After treatment, he will be able to stand upright, walk comfortably, run freely, and continue with his studies without hindrance. Most importantly, it will bring him closer to chasing his dream of becoming an athlete and, perhaps one day, representing Kenya in international athletic events. Musa says: “I really looking forward to standing upright, walking well, and achieving my dream of becoming an athlete in the future."

Benson is an 11-year-old boy from Kenya. His mother shared that she first noticed a problem with his foot when he was almost two years old. At the time, she hoped he would eventually outgrow it and begin walking better, but the condition persisted. Determined to find help for her son, she took Benson to hospital. Benson has Equinus deformity, a condition in which the upward bending motion of the ankle joint (dorsiflexion) is limited. This causes him to walk on his toes instead of placing his entire foot on the ground. The condition developed as a result of cerebral palsy, a condition he was born with. Over the last few years, Benson has attended physiotherapy sessions, surgery and has been fitted with corrective splints to realign his foot, but each time, the procedures did not achieve the expected results. His mother got increasingly worried about his health and future, until a friend informed her about specialized care at our medical partner's care center, AIC CURE Hospital. Benson is presently admitted at AIC CURE Hospital in preparation of his corrective surgery. The procedure represents a significant opportunity to improve his quality of life, as his condition has limited many of the activities and opportunities he would otherwise enjoy. He often experiences pain in his leg, especially during cold weather, making it difficult for him to walk comfortably. Benson's surgery has been scheduled for June 11th. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,286 for the treatment that will provide Benson greater mobility, reduced pain, and the chance to pursue his dreams with renewed confidence and independence. He says: "I am looking forward to a quick healing so that I can continue with my regular life."

Mitchelle is a 12-year-old girl from Kenya. She is shy but determined. Mitchelle is in eighth grade and dreams of becoming a teacher one day. Her inspiration comes from her English teacher, whose passion and eagerness in the classroom motivate Mitchelle to pursue the same path and help others learn. We met Mitchelle at CURE Children’s Hospital, where she had come for treatment, accompanied by her parents. Her mother is a peasant farmer who works hard to support the family and ensure her children have the opportunity to go to school. Mitchelle was born healthy and grew up like any other child. However, last year, while visiting her aunt, something unusual was noticed. As Mitchelle bathed, her aunt noticed a pronounced bend in her spine, affecting her posture while standing, walking, and causing pain while bending. Concerned, she immediately informed Mitchelle’s parents and advised them to seek medical help. Her aunt also told them about the CURE mobile clinic in Kabarnet, encouraging them to attend so that Mitchelle could be examined by specialists. Physicians at AIC Cure International Hospital determined that Mitchelle should undergo a procedure called a spinal fusion. This surgery fuses two or more unstable vertebrae together to reinforce the back structure with the goal of reducing pain and easing symptoms. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to fund this procedure. The treatment is scheduled to take place on March 19th, and once completed, it will hopefully improve Mitchelle's quality of life. “I am looking forward to getting better so that I can stand upright, return to school comfortably, and continue working hard to become a teacher one day,” Mitchelle shared softly.

John is 15 years old and a 10th grader from Kenya. He is strongly determined to achieve his goal of becoming an archaeologist. John was born prematurely and, as a result, developed rickets. He underwent treatment when he was a baby and recovered from this condition. When he was 10 years old, his mother noticed that he was shaking his left fingers while using his right hand to write. She thought it was something that he would get over in time. However, this shaking persisted, prompting his parents to take him to the hospital. John was diagnosed with scoliosis, an abnormal curvature of the spine, twisting sideways. He was referred to our medical partner's care center, AIC Cure International Hospital, for specialized treatment. John will undergo a procedure called a spinal fusion, a surgery that fuses two or more unstable vertebrae to reinforce the back structure, to reduce pain, and ease symptoms. Our medical partner, African Mission Healthcare, is requesting $1,500 to fund John's surgery. The treatment is scheduled to take place on June 30th, and once completed, it will hopefully improve John's quality of life. John's father shared, "We believe in a God that heals, and with that, we are proclaiming healing and have faith that we shall walk out of CURE free from scoliosis."